# Oprah, you ignorant slut **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 17, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165 "2002-04-17T16:36:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/41 "2002-04-18T14:47:51Z")
I guess we should cut Reprise some slack—he or she is from Australia, not the U.S., and also may not be old enough to remember the “Jane, you ignorant slut!” routine from late-1970s “Saturday Night Live” . . . That having been said, I wish some other pop-culture figures would start recommending books. Ossie Osbourne pushing Dickens? Will and Grace thumbing through Nevil Shute? Britney Spears holding (upside down) a copy of Jan Morris’ “New York 1945?” ---
**Author:** ![stofsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@stofsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stofsky)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/42 "2002-04-18T14:58:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by auntie em \* > \*\*I was horrified to find my favorite book of all time (_Song of Solomon,_ by Toni Morrison) on Oprah’s list (I believe it was the first book she recommended). I know it’s awful, but I was a snobby college kid at the time, so I felt cheap and dirty knowing that the same people who worship (not just watch–but _worship_) the woman who is Nails on a Chalkboard Incarnate to me were defiling MY precious book en masse. > \*\* I think this got covered in the other thread, but the book that began the whole book club thing, though not officially “Book Club,” was _The Bridges of Madison County_. Wanna talk about cheap and dirty company? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/43 "2002-04-18T15:08:23Z")
Yeah, **reprise** may not know from “ignorant slut,” but the fact that nobody called the OP out for the thread title in all these posts should have been a clue that it was some kind of joke he didn’t know about. The fact that he immediately played the gender/race cards is…a bit annoying. My thought was “Oy vey. The PC Police strike again!” Well, this is a hijack…Back to Oprah: I don’t hate Oprah. I don’t watch her show or read her magazine, but I do admire her. I admired what she did with her book club. Just getting a ton more people to read better-than-crap fiction was an accomplishment. An unmitigated good. I’ve read several books on her list. Some are outstanding. Some are, IMHO, maudlin junk. But it’s all better than Danielle Steel or Johanna Lindsey. I’m sad that she is ending the book club. It was good for her audience, and good for the authors, and good for the publishing industry. I am angry that she is not telling the whole truth about why she is dropping the club. I am angry that in her attempt to cover the truth, she is inadvertently damaging the same people she was helping. The book club made me admire her more. But this situation is making me admire her less. ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/44 "2002-04-18T15:40:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stofsky \* > \*\*I think this got covered in the other thread, but the book that began the whole book club thing, though not officially “Book Club,” was _The Bridges of Madison County_. > > Wanna talk about cheap and dirty company? \*\* Point taken. :eek: But, uh… wouldn’t that be “cheap and dirty _Harry_ company”? 😉 Well, at any rate, _Song of Solomon_ was near the beginning, because that Xmas one of my mom’s friends gave her ALL of the books on Oprah’s list up to that point as a gift. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/45 "2002-04-18T15:46:28Z")
I don’t really see how Oprah is “covering up” anything. I mean, we all can read between the lines, and are expected to do so on a regular basis. People are “let go” from their jobs, or, “leave to explore new career options.” We know what this means. We accept candy-coatings on a lot of things, 'cause it just keeps us all more friendly. If you really want her to come out and say, “it’s all about the ratings,” you certainly can feel that way, but don’t we all know that TV is _always_ all about the ratings? Don’t we know that if the book club was making her and/or the network a fortune it would still be running (and perhaps have a number of successful spin-off shows as well)? Plus, who says that ratings are the only issue. If we take for granted that they are always an underlying motivator for entertainers’ decisions, couldn’t we maybe accept what she says, that these days she’s just not feeling it? [hijack] **Balduran** , the “up high, down low, too slow” thing cracked me up. I haven’t thought about that in years! [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/46 "2002-04-18T15:54:45Z")
I’m with **Zoff**. How exactly do ya’ll know the woman is _lying_? Could it not be a combination of low ratings AND the fact that finding compelling books every month is becoming difficult that’s behind her decision? It’s not either/or, people! I would have more sympathy with the haters in this thread if it was evident that you were all rooting for the club in the first place. But so far, none of ya’ll have actually admitted to watching the goddamn show. So I don’t think anyone here is really that offended by Oprah’s throwing in the towel. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/47 "2002-04-18T16:29:03Z")
**reprise** , please reconsider. I have seen several reasons for people to cricize Oprah in this thread (ie, lying, pandering to ratings, lying about books, picking crappy books) and none of them have anything to do with success, race or gender. If you sincerely believe I’m criticizing her 'cause deep down I believe black people and women shouldn’t be successful, then you have really misjudged me. ---
**Author:** ![Zoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6de8d8/32.png) [@Zoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoff)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/48 "2002-04-18T16:46:24Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by TwistofFate_ > The big fat lie has nothing to do with “No books she feels comfortable recommending”. She dropped the Book Club because the ratings dropped. As I mentioned before, I don’t see these as mutually exclusive. She’s busy and the book part is taking up an inordinate amount of her time relative to the returns. The smart choice is to reduce resources spent in finding new books, which makes books that fit her criteria harder to find. Oprah is, at worst, guilty of presenting her decision in a light most favorable to her. How awful! I guess she should have issued a much more detailed white paper on her decision-making process along with spreadsheets showing the pertinent ratings and income information. I am still wondering why she is being held to this standard. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/49 "2002-04-18T16:46:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by monstro \* > \*\*Has anyone here ever read an Oprah book pick? > > I’ve read a handful, not because they were on her list but because they’re eye-catching when you walk into the library. They aren’t heavy reading, but they usually have a good tale to tell. I don’t read books to dissect the diction and I don’t like to pour over the symbolisms and the leit motifs within them. I leave that kind of stuff to AP English students and English majors. Most people read to be entertained and Oprah is an entertainer. She’s never claimed to be anything else. > > I think it’s noble that she’s brought her love of books to the unwashed masses. \*\* Monstro, you’re new here, so I’m guessing you didn’t get the memo. You’re not allowed to admit to having read the Oprah books on this board. You must adopt a holier-than-thou uber-intellectual attitude and say, “I’ve **never read** any of the Oprah books, but **I know** they’re all trashy romance Harlequin types.” “I’ve **never read** any of the Oprah books, but **I know** they’re not worth the paper they’re printed on.” “I’ve **never read** any of the Oprah books, but **I know** they’re just so much fluff.” “I’ve **never read** any of the Oprah books, but **I know** anyone who does read them is a mindless sheep who can’t pick something for themself.” Apparently, people who don’t read Oprah books are all psychic. :rolleyes: The general consensus of most of the readers on this board is that unless it’s very obscure Sci-Fi/Fantasy, it’s not worth reading. :rolleyes: Do a search in Cafe Society for some of the “What Are You Reading?” threads, and you’ll see what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/50 "2002-04-18T17:03:46Z")
**Kinsey** -oh get over yourself. :rolleyes: **monstro** So, if you don’t like Oprah, you’re a “hater”? Well, sign me up. I don’t like Rosie, either. The book club has nothing to do with it-I don’t think I’ve ever read anything from her book club, (I don’t know how many were there), but I couldn’t care less. I just think she’s a snob. And Dr. Phil gets on my nerves. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/51 "2002-04-18T17:18:28Z")
> [@](#): > > So, if you don’t like Oprah, you’re a “hater”? A “hater” is anyone who’s giving another person heat over something. Genuine hate is not required to be called a “hater”, just a general beef. Oprah-hatin’ ain’t nothing to be ashamed about. I’m always hatin’ on her and I encourage my friends to do likewise because it’s a fun activity. Just make sure your hate makes sense, that’s alls I’m sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/52 "2002-04-18T17:43:09Z")
I hate you all. Equally. Well, that’s not true. I hate some of you more than others, and others less than some, so it all averages out. ---
**Author:** ![stofsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@stofsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stofsky)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/53 "2002-04-18T19:14:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kinsey \* > \*\*Monstro, you’re new here, so I’m guessing you didn’t get the memo. You’re not allowed to admit to having read the Oprah books on this board. You must adopt a holier-than-thou uber-intellectual attitude and say, “I’ve **never read** any of the Oprah books, but **I know** they’re all trashy romance Harlequin types.” > “I’ve **never read** any of the Oprah books, but **I know** they’re not worth the paper they’re printed on.” > “I’ve **never read** any of the Oprah books, but **I know** they’re just so much fluff.” > “I’ve **never read** any of the Oprah books, but **I know** anyone who does read them is a mindless sheep who can’t pick something for themself.” > Apparently, people who don’t read Oprah books are all psychic. :rolleyes: > > The general consensus of most of the readers on this board is that unless it’s very obscure Sci-Fi/Fantasy, it’s not worth reading. :rolleyes: \*\* That’s right. Reading critically is an exercise for the intellectual elite/effete. After all, in this thread, people have only mentioned those "obscure SF authors Faulkner, Twain, and Joyce. I think Ernest Hemingway, writer of _Obscure Geek SF Book Nobody but Dopers Reads_ was also mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/54 "2002-04-18T20:02:44Z")
It’s fine to loathe her. My husband loathes her. She can’t make a move without him griping. That’s his opinion. However, some of you are really stretching to make your own disgust with her into something more than just personal opinion but rather some moral imperative. She “lied” about the reason for dropping the book club? Oh come on now, let’s ease up a bit. We’re speculating about the ratings thing (though I have no doubt that was a factor) and as Eonwe has noted, candy-coating things is hardly something Oprah invented. I too would prefer TV people were more honest about how $$ influences programming decisions, but I hardly find that justification for going after Oprah with both barrels a-blazin. If she bugs you, fine. If you don’t like her book choices, that’s fine too. If it irks you that she’s got tastes that she can no longer fulfill with today’s literature, more’s the pity. But gee whiz, such vitriol, my friends! ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/55 "2002-04-18T20:20:38Z")
Minor hijack…Amen to the “Oprah thinks she’s the center of the universe” opinion. And the “fingernails on the chalkboard incarnate” was pure genius. I don’t know what it is, but that woman drives me insane, everytime I see her or hear her voice I want to jump through a window. I think it started when she no longer let any “ordinary” people (not a celebrity of some sort) share the precious stage with her, they are now regulated to the first row in the audience. I guess her ego got too big and there is no longer any room to share. Anyways, sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/56 "2002-04-18T20:20:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kinsey \* > \*\* > > The general consensus of most of the readers on this board is that unless it’s very obscure Sci-Fi/Fantasy, it’s not worth reading. :rolleyes: > > Do a search in Cafe Society for some of the “What Are You Reading?” threads, and you’ll see what I mean. \*\* Well, I’m happy to report evidence to the contrary. With the book swap, I think I got a small cross-section of avid readers. Granted, it was only 45 people, but I think that represents a good variety of the book nuts here. Anyway, I had them each supply some guidelines as to what they liked to read or were willing to read. SF and Fantasy were frequently mentioned, but few people (if any) said this genre was their exclusive favorite, and no one seemed to think that other types of books weren’t wroth reading. The most frequent comment was “no Harlequins, please.”🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/57 "2002-04-18T21:18:20Z")
Just to clear up the thread title – of course, it’s a _Saturday Night Live_ reference, and one worth explaining. For those of you who never saw the early seasons of that show, their “Weekend Update” section included a take-off on the _Sixty Minutes_ “Point-Counterpoint” segment. Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin would debate a controversial issue, such as abortion; Curtin would go first, then Aykroyd would invariably begin his response, “Jane, you ignorant slut!” which never stopped being funny. (He would continue with something like, “I am always against funding abortions, with one exception – had I been around when your mother was carrying you, not only would I have paid for the abortion, I would have performed it myself!”) So my thread title was 1) an attempt at nostalgic humor, and 2) a recognition of the fact that this is, in fact, the Pit, and not Great Debates. The inappropriate is appropriate here, and if I feel like calling somebody a slut for no reason whatsoever, I’ll indulge myself. It doesn’t mean I actually think Oprah Winfrey is a slut, anymore than I think Jane Curtin is a slut (except in a particular perverse fantasy I’ve entertained since 1975). So, **Reprise** , please forgive me. Ignorant slut. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/58 "2002-04-18T21:27:05Z")
a question, then a comment: I am curious: out of all the people that think Oprah’s book picks are ‘mindless’ fluff (or what have you)… How many of you watch Network TV (i,e “friends” type shows)? Do you exclusively watch PBS type programming (masterpiece theater etc.)? If so, then what is the difference really? Is there a difference in ‘Fluff’ Tv and ‘Fluff’ literature? ``` * * * ``` I really don’t understand all the Oprah animosity. But then, that could just be me. I guess because I don’t really watch TV much that I don’t know much about her, currently. I guess I must really live in a cave: last time I saw Oprah was when I lived at home (7 years ago). I have no idea who this Dr Phill is. I only see her stickers at the bookstore ( I have read a few. I didn’t have a problem with the choices I read.) . I see her mag at the Doc’s office (but I don’t read it. usually have a sketch pad to doodle in). So what I don’t get, if one hates her so much, why is she so much a part of your life to allow such hate? ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/59 "2002-04-18T21:36:26Z")
easy…because she’s EVERYWHERE!!! There’s NO…ESCAPE… ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165/60 "2002-04-18T21:44:57Z")
Oh, I don’t think Oprah’s books are fluff. Not at all. Almost the opposite. A lot of them tend to be extremely well written, with serious social issues. I just don’t really like dealing with social issues. I have read one, exactly one book promoted by her. **She’s Come Undone** , by Wally Lamb. It recieved very favourable reviews, and many people I spoke to liked it. I couldn’t stand it. I have enough stuff do deal with in my life, I don’t want to get all depressed about the serious issues someone else is having. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-you-ignorant-slut/104165.md?page=4)